GARGANTIS

by Thomas Taylor;  

An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Cat Princess©

 

 

 

 

Hello, and welcome to my Saturday Book Review featuring Adventures in Middle-Grade Fiction!

 

This week we feel happier than a seagull who has found a freshly cooked and unattended bag of chips on the promenade!

 

Yes, this week, we have the great pleasure to review the spectacular second book set in Eerie on Sea, starring Herbert Lemon, Violet Parma, and Erwin, the cat. 

Me, waiting for the snow.

 

But first, a little Chrismas sketch......

Erin was sat in her special cushioned chair beside the kitchen table. Clearing her throat, she looked around in front of her at an audience that had yet to appear, nodded, and then began.

"Ahem. Just in case HRH has had one too many sherries and tripped over the butler and corgi, I give you my own Royal Speech.

 

Greetings, Your Majesty, First Lady (and the team of undercover secret agents in Room 101b of the Pentagon International Satelite Surveillance Team) and fellow citizens of UMM. Today is my birthday. . . . and Christmas Day. 

 

We know it's been a funny old year, but now is the time to put aside the differences of the months passed. Gone should be the bickering over who gets the TV remote or who gets to lick the tasty gravy off the plates and the last of the succulent chicken. Gone should be the jealousies of whose begonias should have won the Summer Flower Show but strangely got a sudden bad case of wilt. Forget that it was your neighbour who forgot to turn off the garden sprinkler overnight and flooded your car whose window was left open. 

 

These things and more should be but dust in the wind. They are but minor gripes. Trivial pursuits in the grand —"

"I think you'll find that it's trivial MATTERS, dear. Trivial Pursuits is a board game," Mrs H interrupted. Sat at the kitchen table, she peered at Erin over the spectacles that sat low on her nose whilst simultaneously filling in the latest crossword in the UMM Parish Gazette.

"I agree," Erin said, putting down her speech and sighing loudly. "I was totally BORED. There are never any questions about cheese, even though there are lumps of cheese on the board. They could at least have used real cheese. That would have been far more fun. Better still, real mice would have worked."

"You said that about Mousetrap that I bought last year. You cant expect every board game we play to involve food, moving or otherwise. How about we play Village Monopoly?"

 

"That's not half as much fun when you already own half the properties in the village anyway." Sighing, Erin pawed at the script of her speech and then threw the pen down in dismay. "Do you think I'll ever get the call to stand in for Her Majesty? I mean, we are nearly related. AND I had an Annual Horrible too, just like she's had."

"Annus, dear. The term is Annus Horribilis." Mrs H smiled. Erin's grasp of Latin was often confused, and frequently she made up new terms of her own. 

"What, did she fall on her bottom too?"

"No. Annus means year. I doubt the Queen has a bottom, well not in public anyway. Besides, she has staff to do that sort of thing for her; slipping over and the like. Unlike me, who slipped over on your latest bumper edition of Mouse Breeder and Catcher, that you had left on the floor."

"Oh, I wondered what the wailing was but put it down to those unofficial carrol singers trying to exhort money from us again. Really was a cheek them not actually singing, but playing a tape recording."

"Yes, I'm surprised they thought they could get away with it." Mrs H shook her head in disgust. "In my day, we dressed the part in robes and held candles. And it didn't matter if it was snowing or raining. We earned our money. Now, it is purely commercial. One was dressed as Guy Fawkes and tried to get me to give money in advance for next year! At least I thought he was dressed as Guy Fawkes."

"How DID you get rid of them. When I looked out the window, they were running faster than the regulars at the Pied Sparrow when Happy Hour's announced!"

 

"Well, to be fair, it wasn't me that did that, though I wish I had. It was old Ned, the gardener." 

 

"I know he smells a bit of manure and musty stuff, but I wouldn't say Ned was that frightening, OK, maybe a bit?"

 

"Ah, well, he'd been helping me preparing lunch, using the blender, and he forgot to put the cover on. Covered him in tomato puree. It will take a week to get off the ceiling, maybe a bit longer to get off Ned. When he came to the front door to explain, he still had the chopping knife in his hand. The rest, as they say, is history."

 

"Did that really happen?" Erin asked, her mouth wide open as she imagined the zombie-like Ned lurching at the rogue singers.

 

"Well, let's just say that if it didn't, then it should have." Mrs H smiled, glancing discreetly at the hefty rolling pin that sat beside her. Noticing the time, she switched on the radio. "Time for the Queen's Speech. And after that, you can read to me your review of the book for this week's blog......." 

 

As the radio crackled into life, our two companions leaned in close to each other, lost in the tones of the voice that led the nation. Erin slipped her paw into Mrs H's hand and squeezed gently.

"Happy Christmas, Mrs H, and thank you for being making sure we are safe and fed and happy."

'Merry Christmas to you, also, Erin. Life without a tall story and a few odd characters wouldn't be half as much fun. But life without you by my side would be intolerable."

And Happy Christmas to you all, too.

 

 

THE END

Without further ado, here is what you all came for, this week's review. It is also the least of the year, and my, we have saved the best to last!

 

The Stunning book cover of Gargantis, By Thomas Taylor

 

GARGANTIS, by THOMAS TAYLOR

 

Published by WALKER BOOKS LIMITED.

 

Cover artwork by GEORGE ERMOS 

Interior Illustrations by Thomas Taylor

Trade paperback ISBN: 978 - 1 - 4063 - 8629 -5

Exclusive paperback ISBN: 978 - 1 - 4063 - 9661 - 4

Cover price for Paperback £7.99 (or cheaper)

Pages 351.

Age range: 8 and upwards

Any cats? YES, one, called Erwin, and he talks too!

 

 

 

SPOILER ALERT

As ever, to review book two in this series, we need to reveal little bits and pieces of the first book. So, please do look away if you wish to keep it a surprise. 

You can follow the link below to see my review of the first adventure.

 

Book 1 review LINK: MALAMANDER.

 

 

The Plot: 

In the middle of one of Eerie-on-Sea's worst storms, when the waves and winds threaten the very fabric of the seaside town, a strange cloaked and hooded figure books into the Grand Nautilus Hotel. He is carrying a metal-bound wooden box that never leaves his side. He doesn't lower his hood even to speak to anyone. Tere's asunder thunder boom, the lights go out and, when they come back on, he has gone! He has left Herbie Lemon, our hero and the hotels Lost-and-Founder, an object he says he has found. It is a strange shell, covered in curved spikes and unusually heavy for its size with a metallic clink from something inside. Now, if that weren't warning enough that something was strange, there was a small opening where it could be wound up. 

Against his better judgement, Herbie, urged on by Violet Parma and Erwin, who have just arrived in the Lost and Found room, winds up the shell. A strange mechanical crab-like creature comes out and threatens them. Safely secured under a weighed down bucket, our Herbie and Violet head out to the pier for supper. On the way, Herbie sees something very much like a sea serpent, weaving through the storm clouds. Or did he?

 

On their return, the strange wind-up crab beast has vanished. Not only did it chop its way out of the wooden pail, but it also took some hefty chunks of fur off Erwin! Somewhere in the Lost and Found office, the creature lies lurking..... Not a happy thought, but one put aside when a group of sodden sailors carry a strange object into the hotel lobby, all tied up in one of their nets. This turns out to be none other than Mrs Fossil, the local pro-beachcomber. Not only that, but she holds a strangely shaped bottle in her grasp that she found on the beach that very evening.

 

When the sailors, Mrs Fossil and even Dr Thalassi lay claim to the bottle, the Lady Kraken is brought down to adjudicate. She decides that as it is a lost and found item, Herbie should look after it and resolve who rightfully owns it.

 

At this point, I need to through into the ring one of many old Eerie sayings that will come to haunt and guide this adventure: 'When Gargantis sleeps, Eerie keeps. When Gargantis wakes, Eerie quakes . . . . and all falls into the sea!'

 

Will unstoppering the bottle to reveal the contents really put an end to Herbie's problems? Who is the cloaked figure, and why was he so keen to give Herbie the beastly mechanical shell? What secrets do the ancient runes on the side of the bottle hold?

 

Who or what will stop at nothing to get what they think is theirs. And, what will happen if they do?

Friends will be found, and lost. Truths discovered and superstition overturned and rebuilt. Who or what really are the monsters?

 

All this and far, far more is revealed in the rest of the story. But of course, that is for you to discover and me to keep secret. . . . . 

 

 

So, what did we think?

 

I suppose it is hard not to use superlatives when we enjoy pretty much every book we read. They each have, as a rule, different styles and energies that drive them along and give appeal. This book is no exception. In fact, dare I say it, it stands above Amari and the Night Brothers that I reviewed a few weeks ago (See LINK to Review HERE)

 

We adored this book – as we did the previous one – for its energy, originality and the ease in which we were drawn into the story from the first paragraph. I struggled to put it down when Mrs H insisted I really ought to go to bed and put the lights out. 

 

I'd say everything a good read should have is in here. The first person style is perfect. And like book one, it adds so much to the feel of what is going on. OK, if it didn't, then there would be something wrong. But we have read books where the first person character lacks the zing. This, well, it hustles along with just the right amount of Herbert Lemons story to give direction and flavour. Not that it needs extra of that, as there is plenty of seaspray and storm-born static to power a flotilla of stories and seaside neon lights. That may just have been a hint as to something that happens in the book. . . or maybe not. 

Oh, in case you were wondering, Erwin, the cat, has his part to play in this too. 

So . . . . 

Crunch time. 

 

An absolute must-read after the first adventure. Buy for the kid in your life or in yourself. 

There you have it. There is nothing more to add, except that we will be reading and reviewing book three early next year, so there is a lot to look forward to. 

 

Till then, please do come back for more Adventures in Middle-Grade reading. 

 

 

Want to buy a copy?

 

To get a gargantuan attack of salty seaside adventure, then head to your local independent bookshop before they get washed away by the tide of online retailing. 

 

Thomas Taylor's web page can be found HERE. http://www.thomastaylor-author.com/

 

Walker Books web page can be found HERE. https://www.walker.co.uk/

 

If any authors, publishers or agents wish us to review their books, please do get in touch. Details are listed on our book review page.

 

 

Till laters!

 

ERin

 

WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER.

A 'RIVERS OF LONDON' Novella,  by BEN AARONOVITCH.

 

An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Cat Princess

 

Erin, addicted to Mystery Adventure and Mice!

Hello, and welcome to my Saturday Book Review!

This week, we have something really rather different but supremely special. What Abigail Did That Summer is a spinoff novella from the Rivers of London series of books, by the hugely brilliant, Ben Aaronovitch. Needless to say we both are totally addicted to this series and pounce on any new book that comes out. To be accurate, I get Mrs H to pounce on the postman the moment they leave the sorting office!

 

Before we get started it will help to have a bit of background info on the Rivers series.  

 

The Rivers of London books are wonderful detective series, infused with magic, all manner of river spirits, faye and modern-day villains equiped with magical skills. For the greater part they are set in or around London and the UK. The lead protagonist, Peter Grant, is a police constable, and erstwhile apprentice wizard. OK, so in actuality they prefer the term of Practitioner. But anyone who wields balls of light, can stop bullets and can blow holes through things like his one hundred years plus police boss, Inspector Thomas Nightingale, can do, can call themselves what they like. Peter and Nightingale are based at an old London building known as the The Folly. Together they are the only practitioners serving the UK. If their is wierd stuff going down, be it 'jazz vampires' or trouble with the local River Godesses, which there certainly is, then you call The Folly!

 

This is NOT Harry Potter. This IS up to date policing with a magical and thoroughly entertaining and addictive twist. CSI really has nothing on these guys!

 

 

So, with that really rather hurried back-story to the Rivers of London – which believe me, comes nowhere near expressing how clever, involving and darkly fun and somewhat tongue in cheek the books are – we shall proceed to the actual review. 

 

 

 

WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER, by BEN AARONOVITCH

Published by Gollancz, an imprint of Orion Publishing.

ISBN: 978 - 1 - 473 - 22435 - 3

Cover price £7.99 (Paperback)




The Plot:  


Abigail Kumara (we'll call her Abigail) is the thirteen-year-old neighbour of Peter Grant's parents and Peter's cousin. She had come to Peter's attention when she was found ghost hunting in a tunnel on an active railway line. Having discovered Peter is a wizard, she is intent on learning magic herself. Later, she earns a nickname/reputation that is really rather appropriate: 'Ghost Hunter, Fox Whisperer, Trouble Maker'.


Our story opens in the 'Achieving Best Evidence' suite at the local police station, and Abigail is there to help them with their enquiries into some missing children. The mother of one particular child, Simon, that Abigail had become friends with, arrives and takes over the meeting. Simon's mum happens to be a high ranking civil servant – of the possible spy kind.

So, at this point, the story cleverly flashes back to how Simon met Abigail some days earlier.

It is the summer holidays, and Abigail is left to her own devices, free to wander around London as she will. With a brother who is essentially terminally ill, her mother has enough on her plate.

Simon says hello to her at the entrance to Hampstead Heath, and thus the two get chatting. Both were supposed to meet someone different there, to take them to some strange 'event/happening', but it seems they have not turned up. So, the two get talking and after doing a bit of cat watching, or rather watching the crazy cat lady who looks after the strays in the area, they head to gates. There they get questioned by the 'Feds' (police) about some missing children. Simon admits to having met one of the girls before Abi could stop him. She has a bit of a record and doesn't want to get involved. So having both given false names and addresses, they escape the Feds, and Simon invites Abi to see his house.  

Later, on the way home, Abigail is confronted by a talking fox. Yup, she can talk to foxes, or rather these foxes can talk and want to talk to her. But these aren't your everyday sort of fox. Bigger, better, and in need of someone to investigate something weird they can sense in the area. A brewing menace or something that they really don't like. What they need is someone special. And as to the foxes, Abigail is a 'person of interest' she gets elected.

Is this weird stuff something connected to the missing teenagers? Well, that is where the adventure lies.

Now, this is a short story, 196 pages that fly once you get the swing of the story, which incidentally doesn't take long at all. In fact, you are dropped right into the middle of it when you start. But as I said, you get taken back to the beginning quickly. It may seem strange, but the right moment was picked, and it works really well and delivers suspense.

What transpires next is..... well, let's just say it takes all of Abigail's street skills, a hefty dose of stamina and lateral thinking. Not forgetting a posse of talking foxes that seem to be under the impression they are 1970's secret agents, a hooley bar, and a load of military-strength stink bombs! All in a day's work for Abigail!



So, what did we think?


Before I say, this is what some newspapers have said:

"Highly entertaining" The Sunday Express.

"Funny and wildly inventive" The Mail on Sunday.

 "Charming, witty, exciting" The Independent.

We think that of all the stories we have read of late, this one really takes the prize. Sure, this is a bit different to your usual Middle-Grade adventure, but then, of course, it blatantly isn't.

What this is, is a multi-age range, down to earth adventure magical mystery. It comes complete with brilliant and diverse characters, beautifully executed and with just the right mix of all of the attributes mentioned above, and more.

I have to add that we had bought the Audible version of this to start with. We were so impressed that we listened to the adventure three times! The narration of the story is spot on and highly captivating. If you fancy getting into the real feel for this adventure, and the lingo, then the audiobook is a must. Actually, we recommend the audio for all of the entire Rivers of London series.

Whilst this IS a brilliant story, if you want to take the plunge into the main Rivers series, then we would strongly advise going to the very first in the series. Aptly the first is entitled 'Rivers of London'. If you are not bothered by a couple of spoilers, please just jump in and enjoy this little gem and masterpiece.


Want to buy a copy?

If you'd like a copy of What Abigail Did That Summer to add some foxy and faye hijinks into your life, then please do support your local bookshop first, and send your own posse of foxes to check it out and buy it for you!



The Rivers of London series is published by Gollancz. A link to their website can be found HERE.


So, until next time, we wish you a genus loci free week!

Me catching up on some sleep. We have red lighting to help Mrs H.

 
Laters!

ERin

PS

If any publishers, agents or authors wish us to review their books, please do get in touch. Details are listed in our book review page.

 

Top Marks for Murder; a book review.

 

 A Murder Mystery book review by Erin the Cat Princess

Erin the cat: Addicted to Murder Mystery & Mice!

It's finally Saturday, and that means it's time for my Saturday Book Review!

 

But first, a few words from our sponsor about my week here at the Palace.

 

The summer here in Upper Much-Mousing, set deep in the tiny English county of East Lambtonshire, has been pretty much business as usual. Now most of the crops are in, I've been preparing for one of the events for which Lower, and Upper Much-Mousing were and are known – MouseFest.

 

As the lady of the manor, I also hold the honorary title of 'The Majestic Much-Mousing Mouse Muncher Mistress'. Thankfully it is a title that has no requirement for a minimum waist size. What I have to do is inspect the fields for mice. Once I have found the best field, I then select the best points for the competitors to station themselves for the night of the hunt.

 

It is hard work and requires many hours of nighttime observation and patience (as well as restraint) on my part to pick the best spots. I should stress that competing cats from the neighbourhood are checked before the competition to ensure they don't bring their own mice to add to their tally.

 

This year's hot favourite is Bertie, mouse-catcher in residence at the local inn. He has quite a following (not from the mice) though I think he is a bit on the stout side from, well, too much stout. My favourite, and a small amount of my piggy bank, is riding on Mavis, the baker's cat. She has a rigorous exercise routine that includes kneading the dough to builder upper arm strength. She also does resistance training stretching out the dough so Dorothy, the baker, can make those fancy plaited loaves. 

 

The outsider for this years event, a black cat called Sid from the undertakers, is definitely worth an each-way bet. Not the chatty sort that guy, but patient and silent as the . . . well you get my drift.

 

Me, I'll be sat with Mrs H in the Much-Mousing Tea Rooms, an extension to Mrs Singhs Food Emporium, enjoying a hard-earned nap in advance of the prize-giving. And naturally, I'll be checking out this year's prize, which was kindly donated by Johnson's Cream Bar – a years supply of fresh double cream!

 

I shall post the results of the event just as soon as we recover from the awards ceremony.

 

Oh, just in case you are interested, the second prize is a year's membership to the village gym! Methinks they should amalgamate those two prizes, don't you!

 

Anyways, enough of my rustic village life; let's get on with the review!

 

 

'Death is back at Deepdean'

 

This week we review the next book in the 'Murder Most Unladylike' series, 'Top Marks for Murder', by the wonderful Mrs Robin Stevens.

 

The Plot:

The adventure starts as our heroines, aged nearly 15, return to Deepdean School for Girls after their escapades in London. They have settled back into being just ordinary schoolgirls and all that goes with that.

 

The year is 1936. The month, July. The upcoming event is the 50th Anniversary Weekend of the Deepdean School for Young Ladies. The girls' parents, many of them ex-pupils, are invited to a weekend celebration. It will be full of banquets, and events – academic and athletic, indoors and out. All put on by the pupils and with parent participation. 

 

So far, so good. And with things planned to a T, and the girls all dressed up and on their best behaviour, then everything should be OK.

 

But of course, a murder mystery would not be such without a murder. And Deepdean School, for those that have followed the series, is now about to get its third. To make matters worse, if it's not solved by the girls come the end of the event, it will be its last as the school will close, permanently.

 

If that wasn't enough, whilst Daisy and Hazel have been away, a new girl has arrived at Deepdean from a posh school in Cairo. Amina is in the year below Hazel and Daisy. With stunning good looks and perfect manners towards the teachers, she has stolen the light from Daisy. It is fair to say Daisy is not at all pleased.

 

When one of the younger students, Beanie, spots from afar what she believes is a murder being committed in the woods at the edge of the grounds, the deadly game is afoot.

 

When the girls go off to investigate, they find two clues. One points to a French connection, and the other, most shockingly, to one or other of the murderer or victim, or both, being a parent or member of the school council coming to the school. But what they don't find is a body.

 

Not much to go on. And one could say without a body, there is no murder and thus no case. But Daisy and Hazel feel otherwise. With the help of the other members of the Detective Society – Lavinia, Kitty and Beanie – and the police, they set about spying on the parents when they arrive for the weekend celebrations. At least, on those that have come. But what of those that haven't? Is one of those the victim, or maybe they're the murderer! So, whilst the girls work on their allotted tasks for the big occasion, they have to wheedle out information from the adults.

 

What they find is a complicated web of long-buried rivalries and relationships between the adults and secrets that maybe should stay buried. This WILL be a weekend for revelation and murders and also family feud and sadness. Fair play and foul and a practical joke.

 

As with all reviews, there comes the chapter/point where we have to let the new reader carry on and find out for themselves.

 

What did we think?

I really liked this book. It was thankfully and rightly quite different to the two previous mysteries centred on the school. It is pretty complex, and there is far more fun and games than I have been able to give the book credit for in this short summary. Rest assured, as we reach the climax, there will be a feast of entertainment and crime to make you think twice about the guests at your table and place settings!

 

Of the books so far, this goes further into relationships and friendships. It also acts, I think, as a springboard to show how much the girls have changed. It also shows how in life, that change can happen in such a short time.  I like that. Yet, I get a real sense that the youthfulness of the other adventures is being left behind.

 

So, it may not come as a surprise that this is the penultimate book in this series. It will also not be a surprise if I say that of the books so far, I think this is not my favourite.

 

It is nothing to do with the adventure, just my taste and the loss of innocence as the characters grow. But I am pleased to say that this book is right up there and is both engaging and entertaining. It is also very much on a par with an Agatha Christie novel. That in itself is, Mrs H says, much credit to the skill of Robin Stevens as the author.

 

Should I buy a copy?

Absolutely. I would say this is an essential part of the series and not to be missed. Taken as a whole series, I think you'll want to read this so you go into the finale ready for what will happen and believe me, it happens.

 

Want to buy a copy?

As ever, if you are going to buy, please do support your local independent bookseller.

 

If you would like something extra spiffing, Round Table Books, here in the UK, can offer special editions, signed copies and pre-orders. I believe they do ship internationally too. A link to Round Table Books special orders can be found HERE. If you cant see what you are after, then do drop them an email.

 

Next time I will be reviewing the FINAL book in this series, book 9. It is a classic adventure and one not to be missed. So, pack yourselves a case and join Mrs H and me as we head off for 'Death Sets Sail' and murder mystery adventure on the Nile!

 

I hope you enjoyed our review and a peek at life here at the Palace. We will return, editorial work on our own adventure novel permitting, in a week or so time.

 

Till then, we hope your school report doesn't look like mine and say 'A very trying pupil!'

 

Toodlepip and Purrs!

 

ERin

'A Spoonful of Murder.'

 'A Spoonful of Murder' by Robin Stevens; a Murder Mystery book review by Erin the Cat Princess

Erin the cat; Addicted to Murder Mystery & Mice!

Well, what a funny old summer it has been, and strangely my thoughts are, if not exactly heading to Christmas time, then thoughts of Halloween. Brrr, doesnt it just make you shiver and send the staff heading off to dig out the winter duvets!

 

Well, I say duvets, but this year we are trying something different. Mrs H is trying a weighted blanket, and a sensory sheet. Now if you havent heard of such things then do look them up as they help restless sleepers get a good nights sleep. Why she wants a weighted blanket when she has me to pin her to the bed I don't know, but hey ho, the ways of housekeepers are sometimes beyond not so mere princesses as I.

OK, enough of the pre-amble and lets get on with the show!

 

 

This week we are reviewing the next book in the 'Murder Most Unladylike' series, A Spoonful of Murder', By the fabulous Robin Stevens.

The Plot:

This time around Hazel becomes the lead detective when she and Daisy venture to Hazel's birthplace and home in Hong Kong. 

When Hazel's beloved grandfather passes away, Hazel, as much through love as duty, travels home by boat to be with her father and mother, as well as her father's second wife and her two incorrigible younger half-sisters, May and Rose.

Don't worry, family structures in Hong Kong are very different to those in the west, as Daisy soon realises. Daisy, the archetypal British aristocratic daughter of a lord, also realises that she is a fish out of water and that Hazel, who has never made much of her family wealth and standing, is actually a bit of a 'dark horse'. But, in true Daisy-like fashion, she aims to make the most of the trip and learn as much as she can to fit in.

-setting, and there is NO mystery in Hazel's Grandfathers death. But, there is a surprise that triggers the series of events that creates a fantastic adventure for the girls. On arriving home, Hazel discovers that she has a new baby brother! A stepbrother by her father's second wife. Hazel is devastated, not least because she hasn't been told before now. But things run deeper than just that. With a new baby brother, her place as the eldest child and apple of her father's eye is automatically usurped in favour of Teddy, the baby. Despite his age, he will rule the roost as the son. 

Emotions run high for Hazel, as I am sure you can imagine. But, these get put, if not completely to one side, then slightly out of focus when Teddy is kidnapped, and his nursemaid, who was Hazel's own whilst she was growing up, is murdered.

Now at this point, things really do take off. There is, like all of these books, a great selection of characters and events and clues to be considered by the two detectives. Add to this that the girls get embroiled with the local Triad gang, risking their own safety in the process, then we have a bowlful of even more Murder Mystery and Suspense to captivate the avid reader.

I shall leave it there for the review, as to go further will, I think, spoil the fun.

 

What did we think?

This is a wonderfully crafted continuation of the series, that touches on many aspects of society, values and prejudices, as well as emotions and driving forces. It is also a jolly good read!

Mrs H and I both loved this new and original adventure, especially meeting May and Rose, Hazel's sisters. We will, I promise, get to hear and see more of them as time goes by. I have to say I learned a lot from this book, and think a younger reader will too. Most of all we both loved the way the plot accelerated and developed as the girls fought against the clock to get Teddy back and solve the murders!

It is also heartwarming, and gratifying. We truly cant praise this book enough for what it brings to this genre, and the age range – and beyond. The series, which I must confess Mrs H has now read up to date, but keeping the endings to herself, has been a constant bedside companion.

 

Want to buy a copy?

 

If you'd like a Spoonful of Crime with your morning oats, muesli or granola, please do support your local bookshop first. 

 

If you would like something extra spiffing, Round Table Books, here in the UK, can offer special editions, signed copies and pre-orders. I believe they do ship internationally too. A link to Round Table Books special orders can be found HERE.

 

Round Table Books is "an Inclusion-led book shop" based at the heart of Brixton, London, UK. Its purpose, as shown on their website, is to highlight and celebrate underrepresented children's books, writers and illustrators, and draws from as wide a range as possible of UK and Irish publishing houses. Mrs H says, in an age when small or minority is often pushed to one side by the big, shops across the world like Round Table Books, should be encouraged by us all, so we can nurture great new diverse talent.

Next time I will be reviewing the next major book in the series 'Death in the Spotlight'.

OK, so that is it from us here at the Palace. We will return, editorial work on our own adventure novel permitting, in a week or so time.

 

Till then, we hope your own spoons will be filled with nothing more sinister than lukewarm porridge!

Till later.

Toodlepip and Purrs!

ERin